Old Fashioned Month 2026: A Classic Worth Celebrating

November marks the return of Old Fashioned Month at The Nuthatch. Now something of an annual tradition, it's an opportunity for us to revisit one of the oldest cocktails in the book, experiment with a few variations and introduce guests to some excellent spirits along the way.

This year, we're working with Wild Turkey, The Glen Grant and Courvoisier, exploring how three very different spirits can each bring something to the Old Fashioned.

There'll be a new menu, the return of our collector's cards, a rather useful gift to take home and a bottle of Courvoisier XO Royal up for grabs.

But first, a little history.

Where Did the Old Fashioned Come From?

The Old Fashioned is about as close as you can get to the original definition of a cocktail.

In 1806, the American newspaper The Balance and Columbian Repository described a cocktail as a mixture of spirits, sugar, water and bitters. More than 200 years later, that's essentially what you'll find in an Old Fashioned.

The name came later.

As cocktails became more elaborate during the nineteenth century, with bartenders introducing liqueurs, vermouths and other ingredients, some customers continued to ask for their drinks made the old-fashioned way.

By the 1880s, the Old Fashioned had become an established drink in its own right.

It's a remarkably simple recipe, but one that leaves very little room to hide. With so few ingredients, the quality and character of the spirit are particularly important.

And although Bourbon and rye whiskey are the traditional choices, there's no reason to stop there.

Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon: A Proper Bourbon Old Fashioned

If you're making a traditional Bourbon Old Fashioned, Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon is an excellent place to start.

Produced in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, Wild Turkey is known for its full-bodied whiskeys, with plenty of oak, vanilla and spice.

Wild Turkey 101 is particularly well suited to an Old Fashioned. Bottled at 50.5% ABV, it has enough strength and character to stand up to the dilution that inevitably happens as the ice melts.

Its combination of caramel, vanilla, oak and rye spice works naturally with aromatic bitters and a little sugar. The higher rye content also helps prevent the finished cocktail from becoming overly sweet.

There's a reason bartenders often favour higher-proof Bourbon for an Old Fashioned. A lower-strength whiskey can sometimes lose its character once mixed and diluted, whereas Wild Turkey 101 retains much of its distinctive flavour.

For anyone looking to understand what makes a good Bourbon Old Fashioned, it's a particularly good example.

The Glen Grant 10 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky: An Old Fashioned with Scotch

Scotch whisky doesn't always get the attention it deserves in cocktails, particularly when it comes to single malts.

There's still a perception that single malt should only be enjoyed neat or with a little water. We don't necessarily agree.

The Glen Grant 10 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky is a good example of why.

Produced in Rothes, Speyside, The Glen Grant is known for its lighter, fruit-forward style of whisky. Much of that character comes from the distillery's unusually tall copper stills and the purifiers used during distillation.

The Glen Grant 10 Year Old has notes of orchard fruit, vanilla and butterscotch, making it quite different from the richer, spicier profile of a typical Kentucky Bourbon.

In an Old Fashioned, those characteristics give you plenty to work with.

The whisky's natural sweetness means it doesn't need much additional sugar, while carefully chosen bitters can complement its fruit and vanilla notes without overpowering them.

The result is a lighter, more delicate interpretation of the Old Fashioned, where the character of the whisky remains very much at the forefront.

It's also a good introduction to Scotch-based cocktails for anyone who wouldn't normally consider mixing single malt.

Courvoisier Cognac: The Cognac Old Fashioned

Although whiskey has become synonymous with the Old Fashioned, the original definition of a cocktail didn't specify which spirit should be used.

Cognac works particularly well.

Unlike whiskey, which is distilled from grain, Cognac is made from grapes and aged in oak barrels. This produces a different range of flavours, often including dried fruit, floral notes, vanilla and spice.

Courvoisier Cognac, from one of the major historic Cognac houses, produces a range of expressions that lend themselves to cocktails as well as traditional sipping.

In an Old Fashioned, Cognac brings a softer, fruitier character than Bourbon, with the bitters helping to balance its natural richness.

It's a style of drink with plenty of history, too. Brandy-based cocktails were common throughout the nineteenth century, long before Bourbon became the default spirit for an Old Fashioned.

For anyone who enjoys a traditional Old Fashioned but hasn't explored Cognac cocktails, it's worth trying.

Courvoisier XO Royal

We're also featuring something a little more unusual this year.

Courvoisier XO Royal is a premium Cognac inspired by the house's historic connections with European royalty, including King Edward VII.

Created using eaux-de-vie from Grande Champagne and Fins Bois de Jarnac, it has a complex flavour profile that includes floral notes, honey, toasted hazelnuts and cinnamon.

It's a Cognac intended primarily for sipping and appreciating in its own right.

And we've got a bottle worth £190 to give away during Old Fashioned Month.

Old Fashioned Month 2026: What's Happening?

This year's Old Fashioned Month runs from 1 November until 6 December, with a special menu featuring returning favourites alongside some new creations.

We're keeping the full menu under wraps for a little longer, but expect a mixture of traditional Old Fashioneds and some less conventional interpretations.

Collect Six Stamps and Get a Nuthatch Cocktail Jigger

Our collector's cards are back, although we've changed the reward this year.

Pick up a card during Old Fashioned Month and receive a stamp for every Old Fashioned you purchase.

Collect six stamps and you'll receive one of our exclusive Nuthatch-branded cocktail jiggers, free of charge.

We've previously given away hip flasks, but thought it was time for something a little different.

A decent jigger is one of the most useful things you can have when making cocktails at home. Consistent measurements make a surprising difference, particularly with a drink like the Old Fashioned, where even a small change in the amount of sugar or bitters can alter the balance.

And, of course, it means no more dodgy free-pouring.

Win a Bottle of Courvoisier XO Royal Worth £190

We're also running a prize draw throughout the promotion, with a bottle of Courvoisier XO Royal Cognac, worth £190, for one lucky winner.

Every Old Fashioned purchased during the promotion comes with an entry into the draw.

Full terms and conditions will be available on our website.

Join Us Throughout November

Old Fashioned Month has become one of our favourite fixtures in The Nuthatch calendar.

It's an opportunity to revisit familiar drinks, introduce some interesting spirits and give our bartenders the chance to try a few new ideas.

We're pleased to have Wild Turkey, The Glen Grant and Courvoisier supporting this year's event.

The full menu will be announced shortly, and collector's cards will be available at the bar throughout the promotion.

Old Fashioned Month runs from 1 November to 6 December 2026 at The Nuthatch, Bedford Street, Middlesbrough.

Book a table for Old Fashioned Month.